Virendra Sharma MP joined 30 primary children who were singing their anti-pollution song at Westminster, supporting the British Lung Foundation’s (BLF) demand for monitoring of air quality around schools .

The young singers, who attend Gayhurst Community Primary School in Hackney, are members of the ‘I Like Clean Air’ campaign. It was formed by parents in September 2014, concerned about the impact of poor air quality on their children’s growing lungs.

The BLF is working in partnership with the choir, highlighting to politicians that harmful pollution exists across many parts of the UK. The MP for Ealing Southall said: “Children are particularly at risk of lung disease caused by pollution. This powerful song highlights why we all have a duty to clean up the air we breathe, and I support the BLF’s call for monitoring of pollution levels around schools.” 3,000 schools across the UK are located in areas with illegally high levels of air pollution, according to a report by DEFRA, published last year. Very few schools have air pollution monitors around them.

Dr Penny Woods, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “Pollutants can stunt the growth of children’s lungs and could cause lasting damage. It’s a worry for everyone, making existing lung problems worse, increasing our risk of lung cancer and early death more likely. We must all play a part in reducing harmful pollution.”

Worried parent Shazia Ali-Webber said: “At current rates, air quality won’t improve in major cities for a decade. Today’s primary children could have irreversible lung damage by then.” Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, Meg Hillier, sponsored the children’s parliamentary performance.